go SALMON. 



however, that certain hybrids, as between the Sewen and Trout, continue to grow in fresh 

 water. 



The ova of the Salmon are capable of being impregnated by the milt of a Trout, or of 

 some other Salmonoids, and I believe the young are hatched in due time; but from inquiries 

 I have made, they do not thrive or live any length of time. The colouration in an adult 

 Salmon is not subject to much variety — being different in this respect from the Sewen and 

 Common Trout — excepting in the breeding season, when both male and female are marked 

 with large black and red blotches ; at this time the skin has become tough, and the scales 

 are deeply imbedded therein. Mr. F. Buckland says that the skins of such fish after spawning 

 are admirably adapted for tanning, and he advises his piscatorial friends to skin all the old 

 kelts the water-bailiffs find dead; "when prepared these skins will make slippers, gloves, or 

 binding for books." 



Salmon grow to a large size ; the following is a list of the largest Salmon in Mr. Buck- 

 land's Museum at South Kensington :^ 



Mr. Buckland draws attention to the fact that a great number of our cathedral towns 

 stand upon rivers in which Salmon either now exist or from which they have disappeared. 

 "When monasteries were first established, previous to cathedrals themselves being built, the 

 founders selected sheltered spots where, for the most part, they could get a plentiful supply 

 of fresh-water fish, especially Salmon, for the use of the table on fast-days." — (P. 341) 



Formerly Salmon were more or less abundant in the Thames; between the years 1794 and 

 182 1, according to a record published in Land and Water (iii. No. 58), seven thousand three 

 hundred and forty-six pounds weight were taken. Even now, says Giinther, "almost every 

 year Salmon and Sea-trout in the grilse state make their appearance at the mouth of the 

 Thames (where the migratory Salmonoids have become extinct for many years) ready to ascend 

 and to restock this river as soon as its poisoned water shall be sufficiently purified to allow 

 them a passage." — (P. 10.) 



Every one who happens to be in London in the month of November must have viewed 

 with wonder the magnificent Salmon of many pounds weight and of bright silvery hue, ex- 

 posed for sale on the slabs of the fishmongers' shops. According to our Salmon laws it is 

 illegal to take or expose for sale any Salmon between the 2nd. of November and the ist. 

 of February. Of course, therefore, these must be foreign fish ; they come from the Rhine, not 

 a great way from Rotterdam. The following short account of the Rhine fisheries, given by 

 Mr. Buckland, is interesting: — "Mr. D. Van Elst, who lives at Rotterdam, holds a lease from 

 the government of the fisheries on the Maas, the only one of the three mouths of the Rhine 

 through which Salmon migrate. The principal fishing station is at Orange Nassau, about 

 fourteen miles from the sea; the river is here about nine hundred yards in width, and the 

 nets used are about eight hundred yards long, thirty feet in depth, and the meshes two and 



* Yarrell mentions a Salmon in the possession of Mr. Groves, (now Crump,) of Bond Street, London, that weighed 

 eighty-three pounds, — this was in 1821 ; "flesh fine in colour, and of excellent quality." 



